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		St. Petersburg

Founded in 1703, St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia

Ask anybody in Russia what they think about St. Petersburg, and you'll see, that most of the people have an image about St. Peterburg as the beautiful city of channels and impressive architecture, great historical heritage and vibrant cultural life, the home for many famous artists and poets, a symbol of Russia on the Baltic sea.
At the same time, St. Petersburg is completely untypical Russian city. Being the closest Russian city to Europe St.Petersburg expresses everything European Russia has to offer, but in a unique and a strange way mixing with old traditions. Many think it's a mad city with all that water, smokes and even nights, which are white - typical. But it is a very poetical too, most of the Russian culture and poetry especially was born there. Even nowadays, people in St.Petersburg are considered to be more intelligent, smart and polite while Moscow people are considered to be more to themselves, business-like, and fast, but it's just a stereotype.
	The city is often compared to Venice and Amsterdam due to the large numbers of canals that flow through the city. Although it may look "European" at first glance, the city of St. Petersburg still has a very "Russian" feel, which makes it very unique indeed. Over the course of its history, St. Petersburg has had a
	couple other names: Petrograd and Leningrad. In 1991 it reverted back to its original name. Founded by Peter the Great, it was supposed to be the "Window on Europe" that would allow Russia to progress along the lines of Western Europe where Peter spent many years. Although this may not have happened exactly as he wished, it has still become a city quite different from any other in Russia.
The State Hermitage Museum owns the largest museum collection in the world, which is located in 6 buildings, one of which is Winter Palace (`Zimni Dvo`rets) – the residence of Russian emperors.
	So, be prepared – you won't be able to look through all the exposition in one day. It can be hard to navigate over the museum, but if you have any problems ask babushkas (supervisors, who sit in every hall) to help you. They don't speak English, but if you neatly tell them what are you searching for, they will recognize it. The main departments of the collection: Department of Western European Art, Russian Culture, Art and Culture of Antiquity, Department of Primitive Culture, Art and Culture of the East.


Peterhof Summer Palace
The world-famous palace, fountain and park ensemble of Peterhof is an outstanding landmark of Russian artistic culture of the 18-19th centuries. Founded in the very beginning of the eighteenth century by Emperor Peter the Great not far from his new northern capital St Petersburg, Peterhof was intended to become the most splendid official royal summer residence. Credit for its creation should go to a great number of eminent architects, artists, and anonymous folk craftsmen. Its wonderful parks, 176 fountains of various forms and styles and four cascades, majestic palaces, numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes, remarkable collections of sculpture, painting and works of the minor arts make Peterhof a veritable gem of art, often called " Capital of Fountains ", unique in the world. After 1917 the Peterhof ensemble was taken into state custody and turned into architecture and art museum. Nowadays, due to the unforgettable beauty of its fountains, parks and palaces, Peterhof has become the most attractive for numerous Russian and foreign visitors suburban royal park and palace ensemble of the northern Russia's capital. To feel happy, to make their spirits high, people often come to Peterhof and enjoy its magic charms.
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